The Morden Family genealogy, recently brought to light by descendant Grayce Armstrong, reveals a captivating glimpse into a family history marked by divided loyalties during pivotal historical periods and sheds light on less discussed aspects of the past, including Native American slave ownership. Armstrong’s discovery of family records has unveiled a narrative as complex and nuanced as the times in which her ancestors lived.
While sorting through belongings at her mother’s home, Armstrong unearthed a 1964 Morden genealogy compiled by Arnold and Tegerdine. This finding resonated deeply with family stories passed down through generations by her father and aunt. These tales spoke of ancestors entangled in the throes of history – one even hanged as a British spy – and the ownership of Native American slaves, a practice less frequently acknowledged in historical accounts.
Further research online led Armstrong to another Morden family tree, this one created by John Charles William Ireland in 2006. Remarkably consistent with Armstrong’s genealogy, the two accounts largely aligned, differing slightly only on geographical locations, with Armstrong’s research suggesting some family members resided in Noleton Township, Sussex County, while Ireland’s placed them in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Piecing together these family histories, the narrative begins to solidify around James George Morden, who, with his family, is believed to have settled near Easton, Pennsylvania, around 1743. In a twist of fate, his son, Ralph Morden, became enamored with Ann Durham, a Quaker woman. This relationship led Ralph to convert from Anglicanism to Quakerism, a decision that would profoundly impact his life and legacy.
Ralph Morden’s Quaker faith, rooted in pacifism, placed him in a precarious position as tensions escalated in the lead up to and during the Revolutionary War. As Armstrong notes, Ralph, adhering to Quaker principles, attempted to be a “friend” to both sides of the conflict. However, this neutrality proved perilous. “Ralph Morden was hanged for treason as a British Spy in Easton, Pa., in 1780,” Armstrong recounts.
His Quaker stance initially offered a degree of protection; his farm and crops were spared from the ravages of war. Yet, as the conflict intensified, Ralph’s attempt to aid a neighbor, a British soldier named Robert Land, would seal his tragic fate. Using an “Indian Ladder,” Ralph sought to help Land escape to Canada. Tragically, the plan was betrayed by the Faulkner brothers, who were also offered escape but instead alerted authorities to the rendezvous. Guards were waiting to apprehend both Ralph Morden and Robert Land.
Accounts detail a chaotic scene: Robert Land was shot during the attempted escape, but managed to flee. Ralph Morden, believing his actions to be those of a neighborly Quaker assisting someone in need, surrendered, expecting leniency from the court. He argued he was merely extending mercy to a neighbor whose property had already suffered for his Loyalist sympathies.
Ireland’s account expands on the incident, highlighting Robert Land’s role as a “staunch Loyalist with England” and a courier for British forces. Fearing for his life, Land sought Ralph Morden’s help to reach Canada. Ireland writes, “Ralph, being a true Quaker, was only too happy to help his neighbor in need.” However, their escape attempt was intercepted by Patriots, leading to Land being shot and Ralph’s capture. Land, remarkably, survived, escaped, and successfully made his way to Canada.
Armstrong further speculates on the role of Native Americans in Land’s escape and recovery: “One would wonder whether Robert Land benefited from assistance from the Indians in evading capture, disappearing and recovering from his wound, reportedly using herbs to patch up the wound and survived, climbed the Indian Ladder and made his way to Canada, where he received a land grant.”
Ireland’s research emphasizes the volatile atmosphere of 1780, where animosity was directed even towards pacifist Quakers from both Loyalist and Patriot factions. This hostility tragically impacted Ralph Morden. Despite believing his actions would be understood as humanitarian, Ralph was charged with high treason. A swift trial condemned the Quaker to death. On a frigid November 25, 1780, Ann Durham Morden and her eldest son, John, witnessed the public hanging of Ralph Morden in Easton.
The execution of their father profoundly impacted Ralph Morden’s sons. John and James Morden joined Sir John Johnson’s King Royal Regiment of New York, while Moses Morden enlisted with the New Jersey Volunteers, both Loyalist regiments. Following the war, some Morden family members relocated to Canada, receiving land grants for their loyalty to the British Crown. However, as Armstrong’s genealogy indicates, other branches of the family remained in the Sussex County area, with some descendants residing in Noleton (sic), Sussex County, in the early 1800s.
Beyond the Revolutionary War era, the Morden family history delves into another sensitive topic: Native American slave ownership. Armstrong notes that family lore, passed down by her father, suggests marriages to Native Americans, possibly Cree, although it remains unclear if these individuals are in their direct ancestral line.
Her aunt’s recollections reveal that when George Morden moved to Canada, he brought two slaves with him. Furthermore, records show that on April 18, 1801, Jonathan Morden, formerly of Noleton Township, Sussex County, traveled back from Canada to Sussex County to purchase a 14-year-old Native American slave named Phill. Jonathan then took Phill back to Canada, where he reportedly lived the rest of his life with the Morden family.
Armstrong’s aunt consistently maintained that all slaves owned by the Morden family were Native Americans. This raises intriguing questions for Armstrong: “Armstrong suggests that there must have been a Native American slave market in Sussex County in 1801 or at least someone selling them.” She expresses a desire to learn more about Native American slavery, particularly about Phill: “Who was he? What tribe was he from?”
Armstrong proposes a theory regarding the fate of slaves in Sussex County, suggesting that some were taken to Canada by Loyalist masters or sold to Canadians. She explains, “The history is that the Tories that were loyal to the British cause were gradually removed from this country both during and following the Revolutionary War. This removal included both whites and Native Americans as even though they lost the war, Gov. Simco gave land grants in Canada to loyal supporters of the king during the war.”
Armstrong’s hypothesis is that land grants primarily benefited white Loyalists, while Native Americans were often treated as chattel, purchased as slaves in America and brought to Canada by their owners. Intrigued by the rich and complex tapestry of her family history, Grayce Armstrong seeks to uncover more about these lesser-known aspects, particularly the experiences of Native Americans enslaved by her ancestors. She also ponders the ambiguous legacy of Ralph Morden, questioning: “Was her ancestor Ralph Morden a hero or a villain? Was he a Quaker martyr or a British spy?”
The Morden family history serves as a compelling microcosm of a complex historical period, raising important questions about loyalty, morality, and the often-overlooked history of Native American slavery in early America and Canada. It underscores the importance of genealogical research in uncovering the multifaceted narratives that shape our understanding of the past.
